Tank-wall temperature indicator



c. H. WALSH 2,362,423 TANK-WALL TEMPERATURE INDICATOR Filed Aug. 1, 1942 4 lNVEN TOR Patented Nov. 7, 19 44 UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,362,423 1 TANK- ALL TEMPERATURE INDICATOR Carroll H. Walsh, Pine Bluff, Ark. Application August 1, 1942, Serial No. 453,269

I 12 Claims. (01. 116-1145) This invention relates generally. to devices the operation of which is dependent upon the attainment of a predetermined temperature, and particularly to devices adapted for response to associated tank-wall temperatures.

Among the objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a tank-wall temperature indicator having indicating means and means for maintaining the indicating means in' a normal position through frictional engagement of a portion of the indicator with an associated tank-wall and for releasing the indicating means in response to fusing of normally frozen fusible material embodied in the device; mean s'for re-setting the indicating means in the normal indicating posie tion when the fusible material is unfused; and structural means for adjusting the vertical position of the contained fusible 'material and for resiliently holding the contained fusible material in abutment with the associated tank-wall to provide the desired frictional engagement/ Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out hereinafter. I

i The invention comprises certain of the ele ments, and combinations thereof, featuresof construction and arrangement of parts to be exemplified in the description to follow, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the accompanying claims. 1

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device in the service position; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view; Fig. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 4 is a section along the line 44 of Fig. 3. v

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a fragmentary portion of a tank is shown, including the tank-wall It], the cover l2 attached thereto by the cover fastening bolt I 3, and a liquid level in the tank indicated by the numeral H. Arigid supporting member I4 is rigidly secured atits upper end between the head of the fastening bolt l3 and the tank cover l2, and extends first outwardly and then downwardly to a point near the elevation of the liquid level II. At this point the bolt [8 extends laterally through the member l4 toward the tank-wall, and the adjusting nut'l9threadedly cooperates with the bolt l8 to rigidly fasten the generally downwardly and inwardly extend 'in'g resilient supporting member to the rigid member H. v v i A housing 24, preferably of material of low heat conductivity, is positioned between the inwardly extending portion of the resilient sup-.

porting member l5 and the tank-wall l0, and is provided with the mounting connector 2|,

latter being securedthereto by means of the screw 23, between the housing 24 and the inwardly extending portions of theresilient supporting member I5. To provide a pivotal and resilient mounting for the housing 24, the connecting memberZ l I is arranged with a pair of spaced parallel outwardly extending portions having axially aligned openings 22 near the respective ends thereof,, through which laterally and oppositely bent end portions 20 of the resilient supporting member l5 extend. From the pivotal attachment to the connecting member 2|, the member I5 comprises first the spaced parallel members of resilient material which extend outwardly in substantiallyv horizontal spaced parallel relationship for a distance about equal to that of the spacing between the tank -wal1 and the lower end of the rigidsupporting member [4, thence bendingupwardly. and forming the convolutions l6, and thence again upwardly in a closed loop formed by the spaced parallel portions IT. The bolt I8 is arranged to extend through the space between the loop I1, and the head thereof to engage respective Parallel portions of the loop, to enable adjustment of the elevation of the housing 24,

nut I9, following adjustment.-

It may be noted that each of the horizontal parallel portions of the resilient member l5 acts through the pivotal connections,v which are posi-, tioned in a plane passing through the line of abutment of the container 2'6-withthe tank-wall ID, to independently urge therespective ends of the housing 24 toward the tank-Wall, and thereby assure effective contact of the interposed container 26 with the tank-wall l0. ;The inner surface of the housing 24 is shaped .and to establish its position, by tightening the to conform to the outer surface of the hollow.

cylindrical container 26, and is of such size that a small portion of the latter extends outside of the housing' 24 and between the latter and the tank-wall ID, as shown in Fig. 4. The container 26 is closed at one end by the pressed closure 21,-

and contains the concentrically positioned rotatthe :26, and also through an end wall of the housing 24, and to the outwardly extending portion is secured, between the securing nut 30 and the lock nut 3|, the indicating member or semaphore 25.

With the arrangement as described, assume that the semaphore 25 is in the normal or first indicating position as shown by Fig. 1, and that the fusible material is unfused. Under this condition, the semaphore is rigidly secured to the rotatable container 26 through the releasable member 29'and'the frozen material 28. In the,

absence of frictionofthe container 26 with the the tank-wall It or the housing 24, the container 26 would rotate under the influence of gravity until the semaphore assumed, the position indicated by the dashed lines in Fig. 1; but such movement is prevented because of the action of the resilient supporting member iii in continuously exerting pressure upon the container 26 between the tank-wall H] and the inner curved surface of the housing 24. semaphorefifi'due to rotation of the container- 25 is thus frictionally restrained; V

Upon attainment of a predetermined temperature of the tank-wall, heat-is conducted through the'contact of the external portion-of the container-26 with the tank-wall, and causesthe frozen material 28' to melt; The releasable member 29 is thereby released for rotation from the container 25; and the semaphore -25"drops under the influence of gravity to the position indicated:

by the dashed lines of Fig; 1.

When the fusiblematerial 28 is fused, the semaphore maybe manually-rotated to the nor-'- mal position, butupon being released, again falls to the lower position. If the temperature of the materialifi -drops-to or below'the freezingpoint, then the semaphore 25 is again fastened to the container 26, and the semaphore maythen be'restored to the-normal position bypu-lling outwardly theresilient member l to'remove 'the' frictional engagement of the container 2-8 with the tank-wall, and rotating with respect to the housing 24- the container 265 the releasablesmernber 29 and the semaphoreto the normal po'si--- tion of the latter, and releasing the resilient member l5 to reestablish the frictional engagement for maintaining the normal position."

The construction herein described; in-which the support forms-aworkingpart of'theindicator cooperating with the semaphore to establishits position; makes possible a simple and inexpensive device which maybe resetwithouttheuse of ratchet devices or other more complicated arrangements.

Embodiments of' the invention other than -the specific one illustrated will be apparent; andit will be understoodthat the description hereinis intended as illustrative rather thanlimiting.

I claim, as'my invention: I Y

1. A tank-walltemperature indicator comprising a hollow housing of insulating material-- spaced from said tank-wall, hollow tubular" container of conducting material bridging the space between said housing-and said tank-wall and rotatably carried by said housing, a releasable member within said container and-mounted for rotary movement with respect to both said housing and said container, saidreleasable-memvber having an outside diameter less-thanthe inside diameter of said hollow container to provide an annular space therebetween, fusible material within said annular space fastening said releasable member to said container when said material is-unfused and releasing said releasable member from said containerwhen said fusible Movement of the material fuses, means normally urging both said releasable member and said container for rotation in the same direction, resilient mounting means normally urging said housing toward said tank-wall for normally frictionally restraining movement of said tubular container, and visible indicating means responsive to movement of said releasable member.

2. A tank-wall temperature indicator comprising a hollow'arcuate housing. of insulating material spaced from said tank-wall; a hollow tubular container of conducting material bridging the space between said housing and said lar container-of conducting-material bridgingthettoward said tank-wall for normally 'frictionallyz restraining movement of :said: tubular; container; and normally urging and container rotation means including: saidreleasablegmember ad aptedfor manuallyv rotating said container-withrespect: to saidhousing; against the; frictional restraint when said material isunfused;

3. A tank-wall temperature indicator; compris-- ing a hollow arcuate housingof insulating ma. terial, a hollowtubular: container, of conducting: material rotatably carried by'saidshousing, areleasable member within said: container; and; mounted for rotary movement with respect to:

both said housing and" said container; saidzree leasable member having an outside: diameterdess than the inside diameter of; saidhollow-container to. provide an'annular -space-therebetween, fusible material within: saidvannular space fas= tening said; releasable member to said container:

when said fusibIematerial is iunfused and. release ing said releasable member from said container; when said;fusible-material fuses meansnormally urging bothwsaid. releasable member and. said tubular. container towardyrotation; means urging; said container against said ta-nlre-wall for normally;-

frictionally restraining rotary movement: of said container, and means including: saidreleasable member for rotating; said; container withwrespectzto said housing; against the; frictional restraintwhen said fusible material .is-unfused;

4. A tank-wall temperature indicator compris ing. a hollow arcuate': housingof: insulatingyma terial spaced from said :ta-nk wall, a,-1hollow tubuspace between said housing; and saidwtankewall and rotatably carried .byisaid housing; a-releas able, member mounted" within: said-r housing for rotary movement with-respect to both said-"hous ing and saidcontainer; fusible materialrwithinsaid container in engagementwvith and fastening said releasable, member? to-saidcontainer when said fusible material is unfused and-release ing said releasable member for movement--with respect to said container: whengsaida fusiblematerial fuses; means normally urging; both said: releasable member and said container: for rota-vtion in the; same direction; resilient mounting,-

meanslnormallyvurging said housing toward said tank-wall for normally frictionally restraining movement of said tubularcontainer; and visible indicating means secured to said releasable member externally of said housing for 'manually rotating said container with respect to said housing against the frictional restraint when said fusible material is unfused. 5. A tank-wall temperature indicator comprising a hollowarcuate housing of insulating ma-w terial spaced from said tank-wall, ahollow tubular container of conducting material bridging the space between said housing and said tankwall and rotatably carried by said housing, said container having an internal portion thereof disposed within said housingandflan external portion thereof extending outside of said housing,

a releasable member mounted within said-con'--. tainer for rotary movement with respect -to both said housing and said container, fusible mamember to said container when said fusible material within said container in engagement with and fastening said releasable member to said container when saidfusible material is unfused and releasing said'releasable member for movement with respect to said container when said fusible material fuses, means normally urging both said releasable member and said container for rotation in the same direction, resilient mounting means normally urging the external portion of said container to abutment with said tank-wall for normallyfrictionally restraining movement of said tubular container, and visible indicating means secured to said releasable member externally of said housing for manually'rotating said container with respect to said housing when said fusible material is unfused. 6. A tank-wall temperature indicator comprising a hollow arcuate housing, a hollow tubular container of conducting material rotatably. carried bysaid housing, said container having an internal portion thereof disposed within said.

housing and a relatively smaller external portion ment with respect to said container when said fusible material fuses, means normally urging both said releasable member and said container for rotation in the same direction, resilient mounting means continuously urging the exter nal portion of said container to abutment with said tank-wall for frictionally restraining movement of said tubular container, and visible indicating means secured to said releasable member externally of said housing for-manually rotating said container with respect to said housing when said fusible material is unfused.

7. A tank-wall temperature indicator comprising a housing, a hollow tubular container of conducting material carried by said housing, said container having an internal portion thereof disposed within said housing and a relatively smaller external portion thereof extending outside of said housing and interposed between the latter and said tank-wall, a releasable member mounted within said container for rotary movement with respect to both said housing and said container, fusible material within said container.in engagement with and fastening said releasable terialis unfused' andreleasing said releasable memberfor movementwith respect'to said container when said/fusible material fuses, means urging said releas'able member for said move:

ment, and vertically adjustable resilient mount-' ing means rigidly secured at the top of said tankwall and extending-downwardly:therefrom for continuously urging the external'portion of said container to abutment with said tank-wall.

8. 'A tank-wall temperature indicator comprising a housing, a hollow tubular container of conducting material carried} by' said housing, said container having an internal portion thereof disposed within said housing andarelatively smaller external portion thereof "extending outside of said housing and. interposed between said housing and said tank-wall, a releasable member normally positioned within said container and rotatablymovable with respect to both said housing and asid container in response to predeterined temperature rise-of the latter, means urging said releasable member for movement with respect to both said housing and said container, and supportingmeans for? continuously urging the external. portion of .said container'to abutment with said tank-wall, said supporting means including a rigid member secured at the top of said tank-wall and extending downwardly. there along, a relatively resilient member extending downwardly from said rigid member and pivotally joining said housing thereto, and means for adjusting the vertical" position of said resilient member with respect to said rigid member.

9.. A tank-wall temperature-indicator comprising a housing, a hollow tubular container of conducting material carried by said housing, said container having an internal portion thereof disposed within said housing and a relatively smaller external portion thereof extending outside of said "housing and interposed between the latter and said tank-wall, a releasable member normally positioned within said container and rotatably movable with respect to both said housing and said container in response to predetermined temperature rise of the latter, means urging said releasable member for movement with respect to both said container and said housing and supporting means for continuously urging the external portion of said container to abutment with said tank-wall, said supporting means including a resilient member arranged to pro-' vide two separately movable spaced portions pivotally connected to said housing at each of two er external portion thereof extending outside of said housing and interposed between the latter and said tank-wall, a releasable member normally positioned within said container and rotatably movable with respect to both said housing and said container in response to predetermined temperature rise of the latter, means urging said releasable member for movement with respect to both said container and said housing and supporting means for continuously urging the external portion of said contianer to abutment with said tank-wall, said supporting means including a resilient member associated with said as; horizontal plane: through: which; both; of; said; separately? movable portions; extend: in substam tiallsa parallel relationship:

12 Imcombinatiorr, va; tank; a cover' fitted: on

5?; the: tom-of: said tank; fastening means:seeuringi;

saidxcoven tassaidi tank gavrigidimember secured: to: said; tank by; said; fastening means: and ex-- tending downwardly therefrompin spaced 1:81 ,-v tionshim therewith; aaresil-ienm, member adjust- 11. A2, tank-wall: ternperatureczindicaitorpcoins wlablyymountedson; saida-rigid memberysaidresila prising: ahousing, 3L: hollow tubularrcontainer of :conducting; material carried by saidrhousingas releasable; member normally; positioned: witltrinz. said; container and: rotatably movable: with; rea

ient; memberrincluding; two independently movablerarms :extendlng-=,first-downwardly from said: rigid: member. and: thence z-inwardly toward, said: tank; the'zendiiportionof eachwof said arms being:

spect to both saidihousing; and'saidrcontainer; in; bentzinwendirectionssubstantially normal tothe eresponse to predetermined} temperature: rises of; the; latter, meansrurgingli saidxreleasableimember for-movement;withrespectto both saidzcontainen" and said housing and :supporting.means; folf cons spective; associated}. amn aw; housing for a" tem--' penatmze indicaton, saidi housing; embodying; a"- pai-nof laterally: spacedoutwardly extending: openings adapted-Tier registration with said en'd.

tinuously urging; the container: along; as. line of: portions: and intcx which said end portions reabutment: with-said; tank- -wall, said supporting. means: including a resilientmemberx associated? with: said: housing; said resilienttmemberw being; arranged: to provide two. spacelt outwardly; ex,

spectivelyr extend; for releasablys mounting said housing: on; saidlresilient member, the arrangement being: such that; said:housing is .urged to-: ward; said tankiat'tw-e :laterally spaced points by;

tending and'separately movable-portions having;- isaidnrmslion-maintaining said heat indicator'in thewrespective; endsthereof pivotally connected: to said-housing at-twospaced pointsz-rpositionedain- 'heataconcluctingv relationship with said tank.

CARROLL .H; WALSH. 

